Phoenix teen honored by PETA youth group for dog boot distribution campaign
Oct 14, 2024, 10:00 AM
PHOENIX — Arizona’s sizzling concrete streets can be brutal on bare feet — and bare paws.
That’s why many dog owners will buy boots for their dogs: the shoes add a layer of protection between their paws and the ground, which can be as hot as 150 degrees in Phoenix.
However, many pets are left bare-pawed because their owners can’t afford dog boots. One Phoenix teen is working hard to change that.
Jordan Sucato, 15, started a nonprofit to distribute dog boots and other supplies to dogs whose owners are experiencing homelessness.
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Her group, Laws for Paws, has earned recognition from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
A youth-oriented branch of the international animal rights group, peta2, gave Jordan its Hero to Animals Award. This award recognizes people who have contributed significantly to the welfare of animals.
“Since founding Laws for Paws, I have learned a lot about different ways to improve animal welfare,” Jordan said in an interview with peta2.
Her group raises money for hundreds of pairs of dog boots. It then sends those boots to Dogs Day Out AZ, a local nonprofit that distributes the shoes to unhoused people and their animal companions.
Why Phoenix teen is devoted to giving out dog boots
Jordan started her nonprofit in January ahead of Phoenix’s hottest summer since the National Weather Service started keeping records.
Not only that, but September and October have both been hotter than average, with Phoenix enduring a two-week-long streak of record daily high temperatures.
As someone with a background of volunteering at local animal shelters and fostering animals, Jordan knew she had to step in and help in any way she could.
“My goal is to provide them with comfort and relief in any way possible,” Jordan said. “I believe that all animals deserve equal consideration, regardless of how they are housed, which is why speaking on behalf of all animals is so important.”
In addition to earning the PETA recognition, Jordan also made TIME’s Kid of the Year 2024 list.
